The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and relevant links.

Dürre Wand and Gutenstein Alps

As 2011 came to a close, I decided to hike up the ridge of the Dürre Wand (Barren Wall) in southeastern Austria. This area is part of the Gutenstein Alps; a mountain range in the Eastern Alps region consisting largely of limestone and dolomite. The relatively narrow edge of the Dürre Wand can be readily seen on the photo above. After approximately two hours on the trail, I reached my destination at the top of the Plattenstein (3,786 ft or 1,154 m), where I was rudely greeted by fog and strong winds. Spruce and larch are the dominant tree species at these elevations. In the foreground, the gnarled trunk of a long-dead spruce remains erect as its roots still clutch firmly to the rocky subsurface. Photo taken on December 30, 2011.